Mary Yvonne Sallee

Mary Yvonne Sallee, 88, of Fort Smith, was reunited with loved ones on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at a local nursing home in Van Buren. Yvonne loved gardening and was very skilled in that area. She always credited this love to her parents, Elva and Dovie (Cuzick) McDonald of the Cedarville/Natural Dam area, who together became the first family to be honored as Crawford County Farm Family of the Year in 1948.

At an early age she had a keen interest in fashion and color! She later went on to study at home for interior design and incorporated that with her passion for antiques.

In the latter part of her life, she took a profound interest in research and over the years acquired a private collection of information for business as well as the education system. Her works prompted a recognition with The Marquis Who’s Who Publications Board as an “Information Specialist” becoming a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marlin D. Sallee; two sons, Rodney Sallee and Victor Sallee; and her sister, Jessie Conatzer.

She is survived by a daughter, Deborah Jones and her partner Micheal Bynum; sons, Marlin Sallee II and wife Brenda, and Eric Sallee, all of Van Buren; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren; as well as, sisters, Geneva Jean Zellner of Big Cabin, Oklahoma, Kathie Beaston of Sperry, Oklahoma, and Nancy Rogers and Bobbye Keith both of Van Buren.

Cremation is under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR. Ashes will be placed at Gracelawn Cemetery at a later date.